Ordered, That the Chairman of this meeting forward a copy of these our proceedings to the Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence in New-York, as also a copy to one of the Printers of the public papers in New-York, to be forthwith published.

By order of the Meeting.

JOHN DAVIS, Clerk

RYE (NEW-YORK) RESOLUTIONS.

On the 10th day of August, 1774, the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the township of Rye, made choice of John Thomas, jun. Esquire, James Horton, jun. Esquire; Robert Bloomer, Zeno Carpenter, and Ebenezer Haviland, for a Committee to consult and determine with the Committees of the other towns and districts in the County of West Chester, upon the expediency of sending one or more Delegates to Congress to be held in Philadelphia on the first day of September next. The Committee after making choice of Ebenezer Haviland, Chairman, expressed their sentiments and resolutions in the following manner, which were unanimously approved of:

This meeting being greatly alarmed at the late proceedings of the British Parliament, in order to raise a revenue in America, and considering their late most cruel, unjust, and unwarrantable Act for blocking up the port of Boston, having a direct tendency to deprive a free people of their most valuable rights and privileges, an introduction to subjugate the inhabitants of the English Colonies, and render them vassals to the British House of Commons.

Resolve, 1st. That they think it their greatest happiness to live under the illustrious House of Hanover, and that they will steadfastly and uniformly bear true and faithful allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third, under the enjoyment of their constitutional rights and privileges as fellow-subjects, with those in England.

2d. That we conceive it a fundamental part of the British Constitution that no man shall be taxed but by his own consent, or that of his Representatives in Parliament; and as we are by no means represented, we consider all Acts of Parliament imposing taxes on the Colonies, an undue exertion of power, and subversive of one of the most valuable privileges of the English Constitution.

3d. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the Act of Parliament for shutting up the port of Boston, and divesting some of the inhabitants of private property, is a most unparalleled, rigorous, and unjust piece of cruelty and despotism.

4th. That unanimity and firmness of measures in the Colonies are the most effectual means to secure the invaded rights and privileges of America, and to avoid the impending ruin which now threatens this once happy country.

5th. That the most effectual mode of redressing our grievances will be by general Congress of Delegates from the different Colonies; and that we are willing to abide by such measures as they in their wisdom shall consider necessary to be adopted on that important occasion.

By order of the Committee,

EBENEZER HAVILAND, Chairman.

The Committee for the town of Rye will meet the Committees of the other towns and districts in the County of West Chester, on Monday, the 22d day of this instant, at the Court House in the White Plains, to return an answer to a Letter from Mr. Isaac Low, Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence in New-York.

CHARLES COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

Annapolis, August 11th, 1774

The Committee of Charles County having notice of the arrival of the brigantine Mary and Jane, Captain George Chapman, master, in St. Mary's river, St. Mary's County, from London, with tea subject to the payment of American duty, part of which the Committee suspected was designed to be landed in this county, requested Captain Chapman, (then in Charles County) to attend the meeting of the said Committee; in consequence whereof the Captain attended, and gave information that a quantity of tea was shipped on board his brig at London, on the 20th of May last, whereof two chests were consigned to Mr. Robert Findlay, merchant in Bladensburg; one chest to Mr. Robert Peter, of Georgetown, merchant; and the remainder to sundry merchants in Norfolk, Virginia; that the consigners of the said tea, before the shipping thereof, were acquainted with the passing the Boston Port Bill, and also of the sense of America respecting the consequences of receiving tea subject to duty imposed by the British Parliament, payable in America for the purpose of revenue; that he had received the duty in London for the tea consigned to Mr. Findlay, with direction to pay the same to the collector here on his arrival, but that no money was delivered to him in London to pay the duty on the other tea on board his vessel.

Mr. Robert Findlay, at the desire of the Committee, also attended; and having fully and satisfactorily exculpated himself of any intention to counteract the resolutions of America, by orders for the said tea, the same being sent by him to his correspondents last fall, declared his inclination to do with the tea whatever was thought reasonable by the Committee of this or any other county. The Committee thought proper, as Mr. Findlay was concerned in a store kept in Charles County, to acquaint him and Captain Chapman that the said tea ought not to be landed there, or in any other part of Maryland; and that any attempt to land the same in this county, would be opposed by the people thereof, upon which Mr. Findlay pledged his word to the Committee that the said tea should not by his order or consent be landed in America; but that he would order the same to be sent back to London. Captain Chapman also promised the Committee that he would return Mr. Findlay's tea to London, and that he would not land the tea consigned to Mr. Peter, but would return the same to London, unless Mr. Peter demanded it at his vessel's side, of which (if it happens) he promised immediately to inform the Committee of such county as should be most convenient. The Committtee having transmitted intelligence of this transaction to the neighbouring counties, and Norfolk, thanked Captain Chapman and Mr. Findlay for their candid and upright conduct in this affair.

FREDERICK COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

Certain gentlemen of the Committee of Correspondence for Frederick County, having received intelligence from the Committee of Charles County, that the brigantine Mary and Jane, Captain Chapman, Commander, was arrived in Wicomico from London, and that she brought eleven chests of tea destined for Virginia and Maryland; one chest whereof was addressed to Mr. Robert Peter, of Georgetown, and another to Mr. John Ferguson, of the same place, factor for Messrs. Findlay and Company, notice was immediately despatched to other gentlemen of the Committee, and a meeting was accordingly held on the 11th day of August, to deliberate what measures should be adopted on the alarming occasion.

Messrs. Peter and Ferguson were requested to attend. Mr. Peter acknowledged that in consequence of orders communicated some time in December last, his chest of tea was shipped, and that he relied on the custom which had constantly prevailed in the Province of Maryland, since the partial repeal of the Revenue Act, to screen him from censure, and to justify his conduct in the procedure. At the same time he submitted to the sentiments of the Committee, and declared an entire willingness to abide by their determination.

It was unanimously resolved that the importation of any commodity from Great Britain, liable to the payment of a duty imposed by an Act of Parliament, however sanctioned by the practice of a part, or even the whole of the trading part of the community, is in a high degree dangerous to our liberties, as it implies a full assent to the claim asserted by the British Parliament, of a right to impose taxes for the purpose of raising a revenue in America. Therefore, in order to discourage the pernicious practice, they judged it expedient, that the tea in question should not be landed in America, but that it should be sent back in the same ship. Mr. Peter readily acquiesced, promising that he would write by the first opportunity, to prevent a delivery of it from the ship: but should it be delivered before the arrival of his orders, he requested instructions how to act, intimating a desire that in such case, it might be stored by any gentleman to be appointed by the Com-